Sicilia!

Last stop on this whirlwind adventure of Italy is Sicily!!

I love traveling by train, so I will be taking a train from Naples into Sicily. Traveling by train helps me get a better feel of the area and a grasp on where all of these places are in relation to each other. Not to mention I get to enjoy the scenery along the way! It is an eight-ten hour train ride, but I'm used to traveling long distances and am willing to take the extra trip to see the countryside. From what I've read, the train rolls onto a ferry to get to Sicily/Palermo ...is it true?!

Because this is the final leg of my journey, I am splurging and staying in a villa. The specific place I've chosen to stay is called Hotel Villa Carlotta in Taormina, Sicily. It is beautiful, has wonderful reviews, and is only 467 dollars a night! (Ha). But hey, we can pretend I can afford this and will call this the fantasy portion of my Italian blogs. It basically has everything a traveler could ever need, all the way from basic accomodations down to slippers and climate control in the bedrooms. I could get used to this...

I'm going all over the place for this section of the trip with little to no regard for expense - there is so much to see in Sicily and only five days to do it! Because there is SO much to do in Sicily, I will use each day as a day trip for specific locations and attractions. For much of the activities I wanted to do while in Sicily, the websites did not list specific prices, only contact information. I have included links to websites within my blog in place of those specific numbers.

Day One:

I will spend my first day in Sicily exploring its archalogical sites. From what I've read, there are several ruin sites to explore. There is a Greek amphitheater in Taormina (actually closeby my villa) that I would love to see. Something I thought was odd - it costs 3 euros to get in if you're under 25 and 6 euros if you're older than that! I wonder why that is?! Oh well, at least I can get in for the cheaper price! This theatre dates back to the Hellenistic period and was originally built to hold over 10,000 spectators!

Day Two:

Scuba diving!!

Ive chosen to dive with La Gorgonia Diving Center. I chose the Scoglio Quaglietto dive on the island of Vulcano. This particular dive is supposedly one of the prettiest the area has to offer, and inside the grotto is a statue of the Madonna. The difficulty of the dive is easy, so that will be perfect for a beginner like me. Cost was not specified on the website, but there were a variety of dives to choose from, along with difficulty level.

Day Three:

Sicily's mountainous terrain makes it the perfect area for hiking and biking. I'm not much of a biker, but being from Colorado I do love to hike! I've chosen to do a day tour of the Mount Etna volcano. Despite being one of the world's most active volcanoes, visitors to Sicily flock to this site! The particular company I found (Through the above link) offers several different exercusions centered around Mt Etna. Some of them are a little more relaxing and include a wine tour after the hike, while others include further activities such as fishing. A hike and a little wine afterwards sounds pretty good to me ...

Day Four:

I will spend today exploring the capuchin catacombs, which I hear is a very interesting spectacle to see in Sicily. (Capuchin like the capuchin monks, where the term 'capuccino' comes from!') The catacombs is basically a library of human mummies! The museum is decided into several sections, such as women, men, and even a "virgin" section. Strange. The museum is open from 9 am-noon, and 3 pm-7 pm (during summers). The cost is only 1.50 euros! Sort of a bizarre destination ...but where else can you see something like this?

Day Five:

For my last day in Sicily, I will explore the Old Palermo region. This lies in the ancient quarter, and is definitely highly recommended by travelers as a must see. This area houses some of Sicily's most ancient and famous monuments, along with charming piazzas. Other than the travel to this region, I will probably save a little money and just sightsee if the weather permits!

Ciao, Italia!

Napoli!

For my stay in Naples, I found a great hostel called "Hostel La Controra Flashpackers." What I liked about this hostel is the staff seems to have a sense of humor. Unclear about what the term "flashpackers" meant exactly, I looked the word up to find that flashpackers means "someone who backpacks with flash, or style." So basically, rather than simply finding the cheapest accomodation, flashpackers look for the cheapest accomodation with STYLE! Perfect, right?

Anyway, this hostel received a 93% satisfaction rating from travelers on HostelWorld.com. Reading the reviews from previous travelers always helps seal the deal for me. La Controra is a monastary that has been transformed into what it is today. There is a lounge bar within the hostel that is used for art exhibitions and events - pretty cool! The rooms have recently been renovated to include decorations of "art sculptures, floor tiles featuring sea shells, Neapolitan coffee pots, garlic and chilli peppers, "ex-voto" and red coral horns (ethnic Neapolitan esoterica and good luck charms!)." Sounds pretty interesting! Anyway, the hostel boasts prices for this "luxury hostel" as low as 13 euros for a 10 person mixed dorm. Sounds like fun!

Day One:

For my first day in Naples, I'm going to spend the day orienting myself in this busy, whirring, crazy city!! I'll grab a map from the front desk of my hostel, and head out to explore some of the important piazzas and free places to sight see.

An example of one place I'll stop is Piazza Dante, which I hear is a must-see in Naples. This piazza was named for poet Dante Aligehri and is marked by Romanesque architecture and Gothic flourishes. The area dates back to the 1500's, with its signature landmark being a 1872 statue of Dante standing in the midst of the square. After talking about Dante and his work in class, this should be pretty cool to see!

For other historic sites to see today, I will make a point to see Il Duomo as well. Within it stands Christianity's first basilica!! Fun fact: there are two vials of St. Gennaro's blood within the chapel (Chapel of San Gennaro)! Anyway, the Duomo was built over the years of 1217-1315, and is open for visitation from 8:30 am-7:15 pm, with a break in the middle of the day from 12:30-4:30 so I'll make sure not to come during that time! And the best point is - entry is free! I'll try to make it there before lunch.

For lunch, I feel that I HAVE to go to a Pizzaria. I simply cannot be in Naples without buying pizza for my first meal! I did some research online (can't go to just any pizzaria!) and read that the Piazzaria Trianon is a popular one among locals, and has been in the pizza industry since 1930! They offer a wide selection of different pizzas and seem to be popular amongst those who know their pizza - so I'm sold!

After eating lunch I will spend the afternoon continuing my tour of historical sites within Naples. I would love to stop by the La Fontana dell'Immacolatella, which I hear is incredible. This elegant and beautiful fountain was built in 1601 by Michelangelo Naccherino and Pietro Bernini.

I'll probably head back to the hostel for dinner tonight in their cafe and lounge, catch up on the adventures of some of my fellow travelers!

Day Two:

Today I will tour the ruins of Pompeii! I've read that to get there, I will have to take a train ride from the Central Station in Naples and travel about 20 miles south of Naples on the other side of Mount Vesuvius. I looked into joining several tour groups, but have decided to travel there on my own and explore the ruins myself. There is so much to see, I'd rather be able to spend my time in areas that I am interested in. The ruins are open from 9 am to one hour before sunset (around 6 pm), and I can guaruntee I will be there until the very last moment I can! While reading reviews of past travelers, I learned to get there early because depending on the number of visitors I may have to wait a while in line. It costs around 10 or 11 euros to get into the attraction, and it was recommended that while a guide book comes with your entry, the audio guide is a very helpful addition to learning about the history of the ruins. Can't wait!

Day Three:

Today I'll start with a little more sight seeing and eventually head into a few museums. A place I didn't hit on the first day that I'd like to see is Teatro San Carlo. This theatre is one of the oldest in the world and was designed by Giovanni Antonio Medrano under the direction of King Charles of Boubon. It was officially opened in November 1737. It still hosts numerous productions including that of the oldest ballet company in Italy!

I'm very excited about my dinner choice - I will be eating at a restaurant called Dal Delicato that overlooks the gulf. While enjoying the gorgeous view, the staff is said to be very knowledgable and helpful in suggesting wine and entree choices. It is a seafood restaurant, and has a huge selection of delicious fish to choose from!

Day Four - Amalfi Coast Side Trip!!!

Because the Bay of Naples is such a great starting point to explore the bay and coast area, AND after having such a nice dinner last night overlooking the gulf, I'm inspired to spend my last day in Naples exploring the Amalfi coast and seaside! After reading the advice of Rick Steves (our favorite tour guide!), I picked up on his suggestion to take either a bus/car ride along the coast or a ferry ride, to stay distanced from the overpriced, crowded touristy towns along the coast. While they're beautiful and fun to explore, they're also great to see from a distance and in passing. A tour that looked fun is through a private tour guide named Giuseppe De Toro. His business is called Sorrento Top Car, and seems to have some great reviews. He is a local and knows the area around Naples, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast very well! He offers a variety of tours, and I have chosen the Boat Trip. The price isn't listed on the website, but his contact information is, showing the personal touch of his business and the experience of the trip. You have to contact Giuseppe himself to get the details. Hopefully that's a good sign! The boat is a traditional "gozzo" and the excursion includes Sorrento, Capri, and Nerano. The view from the boat will make for some wonderful photo opportunities!!

Roma!

Roma - the second city in Italy that I have visited and fell in love with!

Upon my first entry into Rome back in December, I had just come from Florence and remember being entirely overwhelmed by how HUGE the city was!! I stayed at a pretty seedy little hostel very close to a train station ..so I'm hoping to make that aspect of the trip a little more enjoyable this time around ....

After doing some research, I picked a VERY intriguing place to stay this time in Rome. It will definitly be a completely different experience - but hopefully enjoyable! It is called the Orsa Maggiore for women. I would not normally choose a place that was gender specific, because I like to meet people from all genders, locations, and age groups. However, this particular hostel intrigued me because of it's placement - in Trastevere! Upon my arrival in Rome in December, the attendant in my hostel recommended this area to me right away as charming and beautiful place for young travelers to go and explore. I fell in love with that area when I visited - it felt like TRUE Italy to me! Anyway, as soon as I saw that those hostel was located in that area, had 86% satisfaction ratings among past travelers, and I would feel a little bit safer about the fact that it was only women ...I was sold! Also an interesting point, Orsa Maggiore is a 16th century ex convent inside the "International Women's House!" What interesting history! It's in an area of Travestere very close to bars, cinemas, artisan shops, and restaurants. Sorry boys ...can't recommend this one for you, but ladies take note! Orsa Maggiore runs 28 euros a night for a four person shared room - perfect for young, women travelers!

Day One:

Because I am already in the Trastevere region of Rome, I will spend today exploring this area! The neighborhood of Trastevere has been described as "the last surviving pocket of earthy, medieval Rome." The strong identity and flavor of the area is what gives it it's charm. The heart of the area is the Piazza di Santa Maria. In this piazza lies the church of Santa Maria, which is a location I will defenitly want to visit. A second church in the area is the Santa Cecilia, said to be one of Rome's most interesting churches. The statue by the altar is based on the body of the patron saint of music, St. Cecilia.

As for food for the day, I have read recommendations of trying the pizza from the "tavola calda" at Piazza Trilussa. For dessert, gelato from the Gelateria alla Scala (cinnamon being the recommended flavor!)

Also, the Orto Botanico gardens are said to be extremely attractive place to visit in the area!

I will end my first day having dinner at the place where I had the HANDS DOWN best meal of my life last time I was in Rome. It was at a very small, intimate place called Vin Allegro. The group I was traveling with had searched all over Tratesvere that night to find the perfect place to eat, when we finally settled on this place. I had gnocci, and it was the most delicious thing I've ever eaten. I had that along with truffle bruschetta ....it was to die for. The food, the wine, the atmosphere ...everything! I remember being nearly silent throughout the entire meal, just truly taking it all in. I can't wait to go back for a second round.

Day Two:

Today will be my day to explore Ancient Rome! I will go to the Roman Forum and Colosseum today. From the last time I was in Rome, I remember that you can really spend as much or as little time as you want wandering this area. We spent an entire morning there last time, and I felt as though there was even more to see when we left. I want to spend as long as I can just walking through the ruins and truly taking it all in, it's hard to fully process the history and beauty of the place without taking the time to do it. This is why I'm glad that this time I will be going through the forum on my own, making it a more personal experience.

I'll start with the entry to the Colosseum, and then move into the Roman Forum. A full price ticket into the Colosseum is 8 euros, and includes entrance into the Palatine. The Colosseum opens at 9 am everyday, so it will be very easy to get an early start on today's schedule.

Day Three:

This will be my wandering day! I would love to hit the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and various churches and piazzas. My absolute FAVORITE part about Rome was not the museums and sculptures and art that you had to pay to see, but rather the small places I found while just walking in circles throughout the city streets. These sites cost nothing to see (other than the price of the gelato that you can't resist), but have left a lasting impact on my memory of Rome. The Pantheon, especially, located in the Piazza della Rotonda. There are several restaurants directly around the Pantheon which I will surely eat at again. The simplicity yet staggering beauty of the Pantheon captivated me upon my last visit and I want to spend much time around it again. Even on travel websites, it is mentioned that the Pantheon fits in well with plans of a scenic walk around Rome. Di Rienzo is a highly recommended restaurant within the Piazza - pricier, but worth it for the view!! It has it all; food, bar and gelato!

After wandering around the Pantheon, people watching, exploring, and visiting my favorite little cafe (Della Palma) that's right around the corner, I'm sure I'll be worn out by this whirlwind of a three day trip! I'm throwing my coin into the Trevi Fountain to ensure my next visit to Roma ....Ciao!! On to my final day; the side trip!

Side Trip:

My day-long side trip out of the hustle and bustle of Rome will be to Sperlonga! Sperlonga is a seaside town south of Rome. The town is described as compact and charming, and "a pleasure" to explore. The total population of the town is only a little over 3,000 people, making it a quaint, intimate environment. While the area does draw a lot of tourists, it will still be a joy to just enjoy the beach. The itinerary of my side trip will be just this simple; to relax.

Sperlonga is very easily accessible by Roman public transport, only about an hour train ride. I will take the train from Stazione Termini to Fondi-Sperlonga station. From the Fondi station you can take a bus straight into Sperlonga. The bus only costs about one euro! Once in Sperlonga, the beaches are noticeably clean and refreshing. From what I've read it's very easy to get around Sperlonga by foot, so there is no need to budget in money for transportation once I get there. The old town of Sperlonga is actually closed to traffic! There are vast stretches of sand covered in beach chairs and umbrellas. There are restaurants, shops, and most importantly ...the BEACH! What a joy to be able to relax on the nice sand after three busy days of walking, exploring, and navigating Rome. The restaurants serve a large variety of seafood, and the area is known for selling "Mozerella di Bufala," declicious mozerella cheese. Fruits and vegetables are very fresh, and there is usually a farmer's market right in the center of town. I will be putting on my sundress, a hat, buying a light lunch at the farmer's market and spending the rest of the afternoon on the beach!